Huntington Beach Woman, 65, Killed While Crossing Edinger Avenue on Halloween Night

A 65-year-old Huntington Beach woman was fatally struck by a vehicle while crossing a street in east Huntington Beach on Halloween night, according to the Huntington Beach Police Department.

Officers responded shortly before 10 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31, to the intersection of Edinger Avenue and Springdale Street after reports of a collision involving a pedestrian and a silver Toyota 4Runner.

Investigators said the woman was walking southbound across Edinger Avenue, east of Springdale Street, when the eastbound Toyota struck her. She was taken to a local hospital, where she later died from her injuries.

The driver, a 25-year-old man from Midway City, stayed at the scene and cooperated with investigators. He was not injured. Police said impairment does not appear to have been a factor for the driver, though investigators have not yet determined whether impairment played any role on the pedestrian's side.

No criminal charges have been announced. Under California law, a fatal collision does not automatically lead to charges; prosecutors generally must show that a driver violated a traffic law or acted with negligence that directly contributed to a death. Based on the information released so far, police have not accused the driver of speeding, reckless driving, distracted driving or any other violation.

The case is being investigated by the department's Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team. Authorities have not released the victim's name pending notification of family members.

Investigators are expected to review vehicle data, roadway conditions, witness statements, surveillance footage and any available electronic evidence before deciding whether citations or charges are warranted.

Pedestrian collisions remain a persistent traffic safety problem across Orange County. Roughly 892 pedestrians were killed or injured in traffic crashes in the county during 2023, according to data compiled from California's Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System and Office of Traffic Safety statistics. Traffic safety experts note that many fatal pedestrian crashes happen after dark, a factor that could be relevant in this case given the late hour.

Huntington Beach is among the Orange County cities that consistently report high numbers of pedestrian and injury-related crashes, alongside Anaheim, Santa Ana, Garden Grove and Orange, according to state rankings and local safety reports. Officials cite population size, commercial activity, major arterial roads and pedestrian volume as contributing factors.

Anyone who witnessed the collision or has information that could help the investigation is asked to contact Huntington Beach Police Traffic Investigator Tam Do at 714-536-5666.